Published Aug 27, 2024 | 6:33 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 27, 2024 | 6:33 PM
DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday, 27 August, said that Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy admitted to crime by filing a bail petition in the Supreme Court in a case related to granting mining leases when he was the chief minister.
Shivakumar was briefing the media about advising Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot to grant permission to prosecute Kumaraswamy and three other former Karnataka ministers in criminal cases filed by investigation agencies.
“For 15 years, he did not open his mouth saying it was a forged letter but now he says it is. He has admitted to the crime and the government will take action,” the deputy chief minister said.
Even though Kumaraswamy claimed that his signature on a letter granting fraudulent allocation of mining licence was forged, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Lokayukta said that a forensic examination confirmed otherwise.
Shivakumar said the state government advised the Governor to grant permission to prosecute Kumaraswamy and three former ministers.
“We had a cabinet meeting on Thursday. After the meeting, we advised the Governor of four criminal cases, including by the Lokayuktha, against former chief minister and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy and three former ministers,” he said.
“The investigation has been done and chargesheets were filed against some of them. The Lokayuktha has written to the Governor regarding the investigations but he has not responded. We have advised him that he has to give permission (to prosecute) under the Constitutional authority that he has, “Shivakumar said.
Hinting at Siddaramaiah’s case, he said: “ Earlier case for which he gave the sanction was done without any investigation. Here, all the investigations have been done and the institutions concerned have written to the Governor.”
“We have advised and requested the Governor to give sanction to prosecute them. Continuing that we are holding a Raj Bhavan March on 31 August from Gandhi Statue to Raj Bhavan demanding immediate action,” he said.
He added that instead of claiming that the signature was forged, Kumaraswamy should file a complaint and the government would investigate it.
“I am told that Kumaraswamy claimed it was not his signature. I don’t know why he was silent till now. If it is forged, a chief minister’s signature, I request him to file a complaint. We will investigate and take action accordingly against those who forged his signature,” Shivakumar said.
“I also got to know that he (Kumaraswamy) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking bail. In that case, he has admitted to the crime and I appeal to the Governor to take action against him,” he added.
The case is related to the granting of a mining lease to Vinod Goel, who claimed to be the proprietor of Shree Sai Venkateshwara Minerals (SSVM) when Kumaraswamy was the chief minister between 2006 and 2008 — who held the mines and geology portfolio.
The details were submitted by the SIT to Governor on 19 September, 2023, and sought sanction to prosecute Kumaraswamy, reported The Indian Express.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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